Central students participate in mock interviews
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
Central students recently participated in mock interviews through their employability skills class taught by Nancy Healy and Crystal Stevenson. The school and NICC have a partnership, and college and career coach Sarah Beaman from NICC assists students at Central in work-based learning activities through College and Career Connection.
Beaman coordinated the event for the students, which included 11 employers and 15 students who each interviewed twice, totaling 30 interviews conducted. Students prepared their resumes and decided what job they wanted to interview for prior to the event. Then, students were paired up with interviewers as closely aligned with their jobs as possible. Students were graded by their interviewers and also graded themselves during their break between interviews.
The mock interviewing experience, according to Beaman, “is crucial in helping students prepare for their future, whether that is entering the workforce, apprenticeships, short term certificates or college education.”
Interviewers included Samantha Baumgartner - Main Street Elkader, Jennifer Cowsert - City of Elkader, Darla Kelchen - Clayton County Development Group, Megan Thompson - CJ Moyna & Sons, Lisa Pope - Elkader Library, Victor Ochoa - Iowa Workforce Development, Mike Murray - Mobile Track Solutions, Dr. Ryan Royer - Elkader Vet Clinic, Bev Berns - Keystone AEA, Sarah Dugan - Pattison Sand and Tim Finley - Fennelly’s Irish Pub.